ning to the poop,
his huge frame quivering with contending emotions.

"Impossible," said Haldor; "I have tried it before, and failed. Of
course we must make the attempt, but I have no hope except in this," he
added, touching his sword, "and not much in that either, _now_."

"But I have tried it before, and did not fail, and I'll try it again,"
cried Erling heartily. "Come aft, men, quick, all of ye; every man
except the rowers. Women, children, and cripples, get ye into the
waist. The stoutest men to the oars--jump!"

These orders were obeyed at once. All the best men in the ship seized
the oars, Erling himself, Kettle, and Haldor setting the example, while
Thorer took the helm, and, hailing Glumm, bade him do as they did.

The effect of this was that the stern of the Swan was so weighed down
with the weight of people on the poop, that her bows and a third of her
keel were raised high out of the water, while the men, straining with
every fibre of their muscles at the oars, sent her careering forward
with trebled speed, and the foam rolled in milky billows in her wake.

"When I give the word `Forward,'" cried Erling, "leap like lightning,
all of ye, to the fore deck."

The pursuers, elated by this time with the certainty of success, pulled
also with unwonted energy.

When the Swan came within about twenty yards of the boom, which floated
almost on a level with the water, Thorer gave the word--

"One stroke for freedom!"

"Ho! ho!" shouted Erling and Haldor, straining until their oars cracked
again. The foam hissed from the blades, and the Swan rushed as if she
had been suddenly endued with true vitality.

Next moment she stuck fast--with the boom amidships beneath her!

"Forward!" shouted Erling.

All the unengaged men sprang instantly to the forecastle, and their
weight sank it slowly down, but it seemed inclined for a moment to
remain balanced on the boom. Hereupon the men at the oars jumped up and
also ran forward. The bow dipped at once, the good ship slid over with
a plunge, and glided out upon the sea!

A great shout or yell told that this had been noticed by their foes, who
still rowed madly after them; but heedless of this, Erling backed water
and waited for Glumm, who had made similar preparations, and was now
close on the boom. His vessel went fairly on, and stuck halfway, as the
other had done; but when she was balanced and about to turn over, there
was a terrible rending sound in the h